Tipsheet: 2021 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes

A huge field of 14 two-year-olds will contest Saturday’s $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Kentucky Jockey Club Picks

• #5 Howling Time
• #8 Smile Happy
• #1 Classic Causeway
• #6 Tiz the Bomb
• #10 White Abarrio

Kentucky Jockey Club Wagers

• $20 win and place #5 Howling Time
• $4 trifecta 5 with 1, 8 with 1, 6, 8, 10
• $1 superfecta key 5 with 1, 6, 8, 10

Kentucky Jockey Club Contenders

#1 CLASSIC CAUSEWAY scored on debut at Saratoga prior to registering a third-place result in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. The Brian Lynch pupil has big early speed and has been training in swift fashion as of late. Joel Rosario will be in the silks.

#2 GUNTOWN has been outrun in two stakes races in succession but adds blinkers in this one for Steve Asmussen. The Winchell homebred has ability and could be of very good value while forwardly placed early on. Tyler Gaffalione will be in the stirrups.

#3 RICH STRIKE was claimed out of a maiden tally on the course two back, prior to recording a third-place result in the allowance ranks most recently. The Keen Ice chestnut will need a major move forward to factor late in this field.

#4 TEXAS RED HOT rallied to a smart allowance triumph on the course last time for Randy Morse. The capable son of Texas Red earned a lifetime best Brisnet Speed number in his route debut, and he is an intriguing exotics contender at a price with Julien Leparoux aboard.

#5 HOWLING TIME romped home a sharp Street Sense S. winner most recently to move his mark to two-for-two for Dale Romans. The Not this Time colt loves the oval, he has no distance limitations, and the colt also possesses a huge late kick. The Kentucky-bred gets top billing with Joe Talamo in the stirrups.

#6 TIZ THE BOMB closed stoutly to finish a fine runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf S. (G1) for Ken McPeek. The talented juvenile graduated by 14 lengths on the dirt at Ellis Park, and his best performance makes him a major player beneath Brian Hernandez, Jr.

#7 VIVAR looked good in a recent tally in his dirt debut at Keeneland last time out. The Brad Cox trained-son of Cairo Prince has improved with each career start to date, and he has some long-term appeal. Florent Geroux has the assignment.

#8 SMILE HAPPY roared home a superb first-out winner going the distance on the course for McPeek. The dark bay son of Runhappy shows two promising morning moves in the interim, and I believe that he has the tools to be a major contender with any improvement on Saturday. Corey Lanerie inherits the ride.

#9 RED KNOBS is the second from the Romans shedrow and comes off a distant third in the Street Sense S. The Union Rags chestnut has moved forward in each of his four lifetime tries to date, and a top-four finish is well within reach for the colt at a fair price.

#10 WHITE ABARRIO is the wildcard in the cast, exiting a pair of dominant wins over lesser at Gulfstream Park. The Saffie Joseph trainee earned a robust 112 Brisnet Late Pace figure most recently, and he might be up to the task in his local bow with Edgard Zayas coming in to guide the Race Day colt.

#11 READY PURSUIT was a late third in an allowance dash on the surface in his first race following a debut victory over maiden claiming foes. The Klimt colt will need a major step forward to threaten this field inside the final furlong.

#12 BEN DIESEL came home a going-away winner when running long on the oval at first call for Dallas Stewart. The homebred son of Will Take Charge is bred to run all day, and the second timer looks like a great prospect going forward. Jon Court will be in the silks.

#13 MANNIX made good in his U. S. debut on the synthetic at Gulfstream most recently for Mark Casse. The son of Australia has never tried the dirt, and he lands in a tough field to try the surface for the initial time. Edwin Gonzalez rides.

#14 CALL ME MIDNIGHT graduated in solid fashion at Churchill in his fifth career outing for Desormeaux. The capable son of Midnight Lute got the dreaded widest post in the field, however, and I don’t love his chances from this starting slot. Chris Landeros will stalk the pace early atop the colt.